Timbers Sign Midfielder Freddie Braun, Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson

PORTLAND, Ore.— The Portland Timbers announced today the signing of midfielder Freddie Braun and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson. Both are products of the Timbers’ development team, the Portland Timbers U-23s. Timbers general manager/technical director Gavin Wilkinson made the announcement.

In 2010, Braun and Gleeson guided the Timbers U-23s to a record-setting season in United Soccer Leagues’ Premier Development League and the league’s championship. The Timbers U-23s became the PDL’s first undefeated league champion at 20-0-0 in the league’s 15-year history.

Braun, 22, joined the Timbers U-23s last season after playing his collegiate career at the University of Louisville. In 2010, Braun logged five goals and eight assists in 16 regular-season matches; his assists total ranked third among league leaders. He also added three goals and an assist in the postseason to help the Timbers U-23s to the league title. Following the regular season, Braun was selected to the PDL All-League team.

At Louisville, Braun played in 81 games during his collegiate career, finishing with 11 goals and five assists. As a senior in 2009, the Rochester, Mich., native captained the Cardinals to a 13-3-4 record and a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. Braun was the team’s second-leading scorer in 2009, recording eight goals and four assists in his senior campaign. Upon the completion of his senior season, he was one of 62 collegiate players invited to participate in the 2010 MLS Player Combine.

Gleeson, 20, posted a 14-0-0 record and eight shutouts during the regular season with the Timbers U-23s last season. He was named to the PDL’s All-Western Conference team and was crowned the league’s goals-against-average champion with a league-best 0.36 goals-against average (5 goals in 15 games). Prior to joining the Timbers U-23s, Gleeson spent two seasons (2008-09) with Team Wellington in the New Zealand Football Championship, where he started five games.

From Wellington, New Zealand, Gleeson has represented his country at the U-17 and U-20 levels. In 2007, he led the Junior All-Whites to the U-17 Oceania Football Confederation championship and a berth into the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea. In 2008, he led the U-20s to a third-place finish in the OFC championship tournament. Following the U-17 World Cup in 2007, he had trials with English Premier League club’s Manchester United and Everton.